Bob,
I have stayed out of this...based on your request for "experience"...but a kayak is on this season's "want list" for me as well...just my 2 cents....I have been looking at Old Town Loon 138's and Pungos.....
After rethinking that one of my kids (or even the wife??) may occassionally want to go, I am probably going to go to a Old Town Loon 160 tandem.
Doug B.